China has recently activated a new large phased array radar (LPAR) in Kunming, Yunnan province. Kunming is about 430 km east of the China-Myanmar border, and about 1,200 km from the eastern edge of the Bay of Bengal.
There are an integral part of lpars China Missile warns and space tracking networks-and any incoming ballistic missile, track missile trajectory (s) can provide initial warnings, help to extract potential impact points, and track satellites and other space items.
In tasking and operational responsibility, China’s LPARS are quite similar to the US Pav Claws (phased array warning system).
The facility in Kunming is China’s eighth known LPAR station.
LPars’s strategic network across China
In January, the US published photos of its LPAR in its northeastern province of Heilongjiang after the US tested an intercontinental ballistic missile.
In addition to Kunming and Ziamusi, China has:
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Beijing was completed in the 1980s in Hebei province, China (it is China’s first and oldest LPAR, and perhaps non-conducting
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In Jinan, to the west of the Shedong Peninsula; Operated in 2013
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In Jiangasu province (north of Shanghai); Operated in 2022
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In Zhejiang (south -west of Shanghai); Operated in 2014
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In Gansu province, Central China; Completed in 2018
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In Korla, in Northwestern Shinjiang province; Completed in 2009
This not only supports China’s missile testing from sites in Xinjiang and Tibet, but is also used for an early warning of missile launch from India and Russia.
LPars are not standalone platforms, but are part of China’s widespread, integrated, overlapping missile and part of the space monitoring system – and act in combination with many other features, which are strategically China in China, such as data reception centers, deep space tracking network, satellite control, satellite control, and telemetry trekking and telemetry trekking. Additionally, China’s ballistic missile defense (BMD) and anti-ballistic missile (ABM) units are operational relations.
However, many independent target re-entry vehicles (MIRVs), manoivrable re-entry vehicles, decores, and hypersonic platforms, including many nuclear-wise-colored ballistic missiles incorporating ballistic missiles, BMD/ABM systems are no longer defense.
Therefore, it seems that LPars are mainly oriented to initiate a missile attack initial warning and a response. The Pentagon report to the Congress on the 2024 military power has been assessed that the LPARS of China has supported the implementation of the country’s initial warning to the implementation of the ‘warning’ of the counterfeit nuclear currency.
The fact is that most LPars are embedded for China’s missile forces (as a grouped missile brigade under the base), it also suggests that LPars can be used mainly to define China’s reaction to any adverse missile attacks. In particular, the Kunming LPAR, which has a 5,000 km range, has three missile brigade around it as part of the 53 base of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
Korla has three missile brigades around it, Heilongjiang has two, Zhejiang has two, and Shandong has a missile brigade. This fits with China’s declared nuclear policy ‘No First Use’ (NFU). In 1964, it was said for the first time – “At any time or under any circumstances, not the first to use nuclear weapons” – China reiterated that in April 1995, the NFU pledge made a national statement on safety assurance in its publicly national statement. United Nations, In 2009, in 2015, and its 2023 National Defense Policy.
Earlier, most LPAR and related facilities were under PLA’s second artillery force (strategic rocket force of China). However, in 2015, China reorganized the PLA and established the PLA Strategic Assistance Force.
There are two departments in the latter:
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The Space System Department (SSD), which is responsible for space operation, including early warnings, space-status awareness, mission control, space-based communication and space-transport tracking; And
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The network system department, which is responsible for cyber and some electronic war operations.
LPars and affiliated features function under SSD, especially its base -37.
Focus on global access and Indo-Pacific sector
Kunming LPAR, with its 5,000 km detection, is not only focused on immediate neighbors of China, but extends to Bahrain (the fifth fleet headquarters of the US), Diego Garcia (US military base in the southern Indian Ocean), and Darwin spread to Darwin in Australia to Darwin in the south of the first island series.
This is part of a comprehensive strategic response to the US and its colleagues, with clear attention to balanced power in the Indo-Pacific sector.
This is clear from three dynamics:
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China focuses on ‘great power’ equivalence and rivalry with America
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In nuclear warheads, as US-China asymmetry-Tarikh, China is evaluated by around 500 nuclear warheads, while 5,177 nuclear warheads (1,770 deployed in USA, held in 1,930 reserves and 1,477 retired Warheads have missile inventory)
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PLA Army and PLA Air Force deployment concentration on east and southern coasts of China
Impact on strategic defense of India
Said that Kunming LPAR greatly affects India.
Given the Bay of Bengal, its average depth, the ship is quite ideal for operating a submersible ballistic atom (ie, Ballistic missile carrying atomic-operated submarines).
There are currently two SSBNs in India – Arihant and Arighat – with more, better submarine -launched ballistic missiles (SLBM), on the way.
As India SSBN base, Rambilli (near Vishakpatnam) is also developing a new naval feature, INS Varsha, which will be the subtrainian pen for SSBNS while allegedly submerged.
While the Kunming LPAR cannot detect Indian SSBN when they slip away from this base, it will be able to take any SLBM launched by our SSBN, especially as part of a counter/sec-stroke. This applies to the dynamic current as well as the future, with India with its more advanced SSBN (eg, S5, 6,000 km range-MIRV-Ed K-6 SLBM).
Dr. from the coast of Odisha. The APJ Abdul Kunming LPAR, about 1,600 km from the island of Kalam, clearly looks at India’s pre-based space launch and missile test premises.
In addition, since lpars can track satellites, they can also provide accurate data to target satellites with anti -satellite weapons and/or to humiliate them through electronic war or directed energy weapons. Reports suggest that Korla LPAR was used during testing of China’s satellite weapons and hypersonic platforms.
In particular, the United States, Russia and China are currently the only countries that have developed and deployed such a long -range radar for initial warnings against upcoming ballistic missiles.
The Pentagon report states that China’s “defense industry and universities have developed quantum imaging, navigation and radar applications” to increase intelligence, monitoring and reconnaissance capabilities “.
India is a finite budget and technical basis, with a lack of challenges. Therefore, its strategic abilities require to find innovative, achieved ways to ensure that in relevant and play.
(Kuldeep Singh is a retired brigadier from the Indian Army. It is a piece of opinion and the idea expressed above is his own. The Quint Neither endors nor responsible for the same.)
